Dualstarr

I'm also keeping my surgery a secret. I have only told my mother who I had no other choice to tell because she recently moved in with me. I haven't even told my daughter because I don't want her to tell my ex husband. I told my mom if she opens up her mouth I and tells anyone i tell everyone about a little secrect she's been hiding.... I'm pretty sure she will keep her mouth shut. I'm pretty confident my secret is safe ???? sometimes you have to play dirty.

So i searched high and low for as much info as I could find regarding the weight loss surgery options/process through Kaiser (Southern Ca) and always came up short so I promised myself I would update others with information as I went through the processes. Basics Location: Kaiser Downey/Bellflower Okay as many of you know (or may not know) Kaiser (Socal) requires you to complete a program called "Options" prior to being approved for surgery. Part of that process also includes attending a 3 hr orientation which I did today. Bellow are a few key points I learned today. Orientation is the first step (after you are referred by you PCP. 1. The "Options" program is 12 weeks HOWEVER they have recently changed it so that you only attend 6 sessions. Each session is 3 hours long (night class are from 5:30pm-8:30pm). They also offer morning classes (11am-2pm) and Saturday classes (11am-2pm) The class you get depends on what time you complete orientation. For example. I completed orientation today and the only tracks they had starting were Tuesday nights from 5:30pm-8:30 pm and Wednesday 5:30pm-8:30 pm. They offered a Saturday track however that one did not start until late August. There were no Morning tracks on schedule any time soon. Each class meets every other week. So instead of doing one class every week for 12 weeks you do 3 hours (equal to 2 classes) one week then skip a week and then do two more. So 6 meetings over 12 weeks. 2. For all you smokers (I am...or was) they require you to be 100% smoke free for 8 weeks before they will schedule your surgery. This includes NO Patches or GUM. They do test you and if you come back positive for nicotine they will make you wait 8 weeks. 3. You are requested to lose 5-10% of your body weight during the 12 weeks. If you don't lose it is up to the surgent if they will go forward with your surgery. If you gain...you are out! 4. They offer 3 surgical options. Bypass, Sleeve and lap-band. She said sleeve was the most popular and although they do offer the lap band, said they have not done one in over 2 years. They really try to talk you out of it. 5. If you are just at the BMI cut off (BMI 40) like I am, you will not get kicked out for dropping bellow 40 BMI. Once you are in you are in no matter how much weight you lose. 6. Options classes are good for 1 year. After that year you must either have surgery or re-take the Options program again. 7. She said over 90% of the class usually has surgery dates with in in 2-3 weeks after completing the Options program pending you don't have any other issues to take care of (i.e.. stop smoking, have gained weight etc.) She said it's not unlikely to complete the class and have surgery 2 weeks later. She said they are really speeding things up now. 9. The Downey location does not do surgery and most people have surgery done and Kaiser Harbor City. 10. You weigh in every meeting and must keep a food log, exercise log and Protein log. if you fail to do this you get booted. I start my first options class July 17th and End on September 24th! I will keep you guys posted every meeting so you can get a feel of what the process is like. Feel free to message me with any questions and I will do my best to answer them. If I don't know the answer i will ask at the next class meeting.

Hey guys! Updated my channel and added a new video! http://youtu.be/kZZbY6ZsN-E

I loved watching other people journeys so I decided why not post my own. I finally created my very own youtube channel and have my first video up. If you also have a youtube channel post a link in this thread so i can subscribe and watch your too! Here is the link: http://youtu.be/FijP3t5YB10

I'm so excited I could scream!!!! I'm still going to have to wait another 6 weeks because I had a positive hpylorie test, but that's okay, at least I'm done with the class and one step closer to surgery... I can deal with that. Plus it gives me 6 weeks to tie up lose ends

Wowzers...8 weeks is fast lol. I wanted fast...but not that fast lol. I have a few trips coming up in May and June so I am hoping for July or August. My birthday is in August so I figure it might be a nice birthday gift for myself How has it gone for you since surgey? Do you attend any kaiser support groups?

How long after class did you have surgery? I'm having my surgery at Harbor City

Surgery just got delayed by 6+ weeks and It's no ones fault but my own. I was so excited, I just completed my last options calss through kaiser and was suppose to meet with the surgeon on Tuesday and schedule a surgery date. Well part of our options program with Kaiser required us to do blood work at weeks 3 and week 10. Part of the blood was was an h pylori test. Well stupid me did the blood work but forget to do the h pylori test (it's a stool test). Well when I went for my week 10 labs they reminded me. All my labs cleared but my h pylori test came back positive so now I have to do antibiotics for 10 days then wait 6 WEEKS before I can retake the h pylori screen. I am totally kicking myself because had I done the stupid test in week 3 like I was suppose to I could be done with the antibiotics and be getting scheduled for surgery next month like the rest of my class... This SUCKS!

So today I re-started my Kaiser Options classes today. Last time I went thought the class I completed 4 of the 6 and had to stop due to my divorce finalizing and losing my insurance. I was a little bummed to have to be starting over but I had to be honest with myself...I was going through a nasty divorce, going crazy with nursing school, trying to work out the whole new single parent thing and dealing with looking for a place to live. WLS was something that should have not even been a thought in my mind. Flash forward a year later my divorce is over and while my ex is still an idiot I have learned to block him out, I am done with nursing school, the NCLEX and found a great job, I have finally gotten the hang of this single parent thing and while it still makes me want to run for the hill some days I am better. I also have finally put my mind to stopping smoking and am now 2 months smoke and patch free (YAY me! lol). So anyways back to the classes. I love the group of people I am with this go round and the teacher is very straight forward and does not sugar coat. I need that. I started back on my fitness pal and completed the day today "okay" I was spot on calorie wise but admit I could have made better choices...oh well baby steps. Side note ***if anyone want to "friend" me, my user name is Dualstarr. Would love to check out other people logs and have mine viewable to others (kinda keeps me honest). I am also going to start a youtube channel to track my journey.

I am 34 and have a daughter that is 5. I just re-started my classes through Kaiser (had to start over after going though a divorce and losing insurance). Anyways, My mom has recently decided to move back to California and will be living with me for a few months until she can find a place on her own. This just happens to be happing during the time I plan on having my surgery I ran the idea past her about 2 years ago when I was first considering it and lets just say she was no way near supportive. Now that I have decided to go through with it I don't plan on telling her. I had planned on going to a hotel or something for the first few days to a week until I can heal up but I'm wondering what I'm going to do to explain of my new eating habits? The good thing is my surgery will be right around the new year so it will be easy to explain the weight loss off as a "new years resolution"...like all the ones I have made in the past lol. I just don't know how to explain why I'm eating like a rabbit lol Anyone out there not tell a soul? I plan on relying on support groups and a meet up group I found online.

For me it's this...and it just happend to me AGAIN toady. When little kids mostly toddler walk up behind you and you move and because of your side you bump them so hard they go flying and fall. I hate when that happens. Makes me feel like a freaken whale and I just feel like everyone is saying gosh shes so FAT!

And I think I would have took off running..lol Not the first thing I want to hear

This post made me feel a milloon times better. I love food, not jus as a comfort but just to try new things. The though of never being able to eat the things I love again scares me. People make it sound like you will be living on Protein for the rest of your life. I do understand that protein will become a big part of my life but am I never suppose to enjoy it again. Can I never eat a cupcake again (even a mini one), what about 1/2 a burger...that would SUCK

Ill admit it...I'm scared. For me traveling is a HUGE part of my life. I love to explore new countries and part of that is discovering new food in those countires. I am scared that I will never be able to do another food walking tour, never be able to try the Best of... I'm scared travling is going to SUCK for me now But outside of that I'm afraid that Ill never be able to eat pizza, or in n out...

Why the heck so long

NEw video posted! http://youtu.be/kZZbY6ZsN-E

I am a wound care nurse and work in home health. So my job involves a lot of bending and stooping and jumping in and out of my car but luckily not much heavy lifting. The problem is I am 1099 so I dont get paid time off out vacation. I could probably take 2 weeks off before I start to panic. I have money in savings but hate touching it. How much time did you guys need to take off?

Thanks guys

Finally posted my first video! Check it out http://youtu.be/FijP3t5YB10

I'm a wound care nurse in Orange County, CA. Just started the process for WLS. I have 1 class down of the 6 required for the Kaiser Options program. I'm hoping to be sleeved by April

I was like un-laws...thats a great term for my ex-husbands parents lol. I think Ill use it anyway lol

Wow a week?? That makes me feel much better. I was thinking I would be out at least 3 weeks. Could to have gone back sooner then a week?

So my mom came out for thanksgiving and I decided to try to have the talk with her again....it actually went well this go round. She's still not Pro surgery but she understands that I do need to do something. She told me that her not wanting me to have the surgery is more about fear of something going wrong, which I can totally understand. We joked that I'll be there guinea pig and go first and maybe she'll go next lol. I feel much better now.

Holy cow batman...you look AMAZING!!!!!

"too old to spank" this actually cracked me up lol Yeah I know this is the case, I just kinda don't want to tell anyone. I'm sure if i told her she just wouldn't be supportive and any weight I did lose would be because I "had surgery" mind you my mom is over weight too. I woud like to lean on my BFF but she is a major health but (former bulimic). She has always encouraged me to work out with her (which I would love to do). I feel it would make our friendship stronger. I mean where close but bit as close as we used to be because I don't run marathons, go to the gym or do cross-fit. I can't wait to be able to do these things with her and not feel like the fat cow. I just feel like people woud be more accepting if they think I did it without the help. It's not fair but I know the people around me I had surgery last year for something totally different and was just thinking of telling her the problem came back and I have to have surgery again... When people ask me how I lost my weight I just planned on saying I changed my eatting habits and started working out...thats not a lie